Physical sensory ecology | Boln. Asoc. esp. Ent. 21 (Supl.): 82 | 1997
Multisensory orientation and behaviour in aphid parasitoids
W. Völkl
ABSTRACT
Many aphid parasitoids use a combination of different cues when interacting with host or with host-attending ants. I will present two examples for the impact of a combination of different cues for host location/acceptance and for parasitoid survival.
Pauesia picta, a parasitoid of the aphid Cinara pinea on pines, recognizes its host visually. After recognition, aphids are tapped with the antennae, a behaviour resembling the antennating of honeydew-collecting ants. This tactile stimulus prevenís a flight of the aphid and increases the oviposition success of the parasitoid. Finally, host acceptance is obviously triggered by signáis located on the host´s cuticle, since a parasitoid decides on acceptance or rejection after contact with the ovipositor tip.
Paralipsis enervis, a parasitoid of root aphids. mimics odour cues of its host. Anoecia corni. and behavioural signáis of the ant, Lasius niger - which regularly attends A corni - to avoid ant aggression. The chemical mimicry enables to forage unmolested in ant-attended resources. The tactile communication with L. niger leads to rrophallaxis. which is essential for adult parasitoid survival.
